Duke Energy plans energy-storage research in IndianaMarch 31, 2015 -- Duke Energy is teaming with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) and the Battery Innovation Center to work to advance energy storage research, particularly as it applies to storing energy from the sun and wind and using it efficiently on the grid, Duke told the press yesterday. The project is part of a 2012 . . . keep reading

Cal-ISO OKs using EVs to balance grid, smooth renewablesMarch 31, 2015 -- Cal-ISO's board approved an update of its strategic plan for integrating renewables where the ISO advised using EVs to balance the grid and smooth integration of renewable energy sources, the board told the press last week. Cal ISO also said it would work with regulators to encourage more TOU pricing . . . keep reading

UK business group Institute of Directors pans AMI planMarch 30, 2015 -- The UK government's rollout of smart meters should be "halted, altered or scrapped," the Institute of Directors told the press Friday, asserting the project is "unwanted by consumers, devoid of credibility and mind-blowingly expensive." The UK member group helps businesses and their leadership succeed through research and learning, its website said . . . keep reading

Venstar offers DR-ready smart C&I thermostats with WiFiMarch 17, 2015 -- Venstar introduced its ColorTouch line of smart thermostats, the firm told the press last week. The line includes the WiFi-enabled T8850 and T8900 models, which can connect directly to the grid. The thermostats come programmed with automated DR software . . . keep reading

Smart grid fares well in Exelon, Pepco Maryland merger dealMarch 19, 2015 -- Exelon and Pepco recently struck a settlement deal with the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George's in their merger-review case currently before the state PSC. The deal included a $50 million commitment to a Green Sustainability Fund for investments in energy . . . keep reading

Screaming Power wants to build better utility appsMarch 9, 2015 -- CEO envisions utilities, customers both benefiting: Screaming Power is drawing to a close the yearlong conversation it had with a group of utility executives to look at mobility from the utility point of view, CEO Gary Michor told us this week. The Toronto-based firm . . . keep reading

Louisiana PSC triggers debate with anti-net metering reportMarch 9, 2015 -- Louisiana's net-metering program has costs that outweigh the benefits to utility customers and fails to adequately recover costs associated with grid use, the Louisiana PSC said in a report it was promoting last week. The program, sometimes referred to as net energy . . . keep reading

Maine PUC asks CMP to let customers share use dataMarch 23, 2015 -- The Maine PUC recommended that Central Maine Power (CMP) set up a website letting customers share their power-use data with AMI firms, the commission said in a report posted on its website this month. The proposed website came out of a prior PUC order directing Maine's largest . . . keep reading

SunEdison to buy Imergy batteries for Indian 'minigrids'March 30, 2015 -- SunEdison is set to buy up to 1,000 vanadium flow batteries (over 100 MWHs) from Imergy Power Systems, the buyer told the press last week. The batteries will be used to store solar-generated power for SunEdison's rural electrification and solar powered "minigrid" projects in India, SunEdison said . . . keep reading

Smart Energy GB takes Smart Energy Week to Leicester, UKMarch 18, 2015 -- Smart Energy GB is taking Smart Energy Week to Leicester this week, organizers of the national consumer campaign for smart meters told the press this week. The event is a chance for residents to find out more about how smart meters can "transform the way we buy . . . keep reading

Cal-ISO OKs using EVs to balance grid, smooth renewablesMarch 31, 2015 -- Cal-ISO's board approved an update of its strategic plan for integrating renewables where the ISO advised using EVs to balance the grid and smooth integration of renewable energy sources, the board told the press last week. Cal ISO also said it would work with regulators to encourage more TOU pricing . . . keep reading

Pennsylvania PUC seeks comment on efficiency programsMarch 12, 2015 -- The Pennsylvania PUC wants comments on a tentative implementation order on the future of energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) programs under Act 129 of 2008, the PUC told the press yesterday. The current EE&C plans are valid through May 2016, at which time the law directs . . . keep reading

Thread Group works to better smart home networksMarch 27, 2015 -- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW -- Exec tells us why ZigBee gear is simpler with Thread: Seven technology firms in July formed a San Ramon, Calif-based alliance called the Thread Group to try to change the global conversation around home automation. The group developed an IP-based . . . keep reading

Duke Energy plans energy-storage research in IndianaMarch 31, 2015 -- Duke Energy is teaming with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) and the Battery Innovation Center to work to advance energy storage research, particularly as it applies to storing energy from the sun and wind and using it efficiently on the grid, Duke told the press yesterday. The project is part of a 2012 . . . keep reading

US, India pledge energy cooperation including smart gridJanuary 27, 2015 -- India and the US pledged to improve cooperation on climate and clean energy goals, the White House told the press Sunday. The nations came up with a five-year pact to move forward together -- but still need to sign the agreement. The new commitment included expanding the two . . . keep reading

UK business group Institute of Directors pans AMI planMarch 30, 2015 -- The UK government's rollout of smart meters should be "halted, altered or scrapped," the Institute of Directors told the press Friday, asserting the project is "unwanted by consumers, devoid of credibility and mind-blowingly expensive." The UK member group helps businesses and their leadership succeed through research and learning, its website said . . . keep reading

New Everspin RAM for AMI lasts 30 years in harsh climatesFebruary 27, 2015 -- Everspin Technology developed a smart meter data management and memory system for its radio and microelectronic (RIM), 3-phase smart meters, it said recently. The firm calls its MR25H40 a "Magnetoresistive RAM" memory system, for use in environments that need data integrity . . . keep reading

Cal-ISO OKs using EVs to balance grid, smooth renewablesMarch 31, 2015 -- Cal-ISO's board approved an update of its strategic plan for integrating renewables where the ISO advised using EVs to balance the grid and smooth integration of renewable energy sources, the board told the press last week. Cal ISO also said it would work with regulators to encourage more TOU pricing . . . keep reading

Thread Group works to better smart home networksMarch 27, 2015 -- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW -- Exec tells us why ZigBee gear is simpler with Thread: Seven technology firms in July formed a San Ramon, Calif-based alliance called the Thread Group to try to change the global conversation around home automation. The group developed an IP-based . . . keep reading

Illinois bill lets ComEd spend $300 million on microgridsMarch 27, 2015 -- A bill Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) said would expand renewable energy and support microgrid construction is headed to the floor of the Illinois Senate for a full vote, the utility told the press yesterday, noting the bill passed out of the state Senate's Energy & Public . . . keep reading

IHS expects smart grid sensor market to boomMarch 18, 2015 -- The market for smart grid sensors is likely to expand rapidly in the next decade, with revenues growing nearly tenfold between last year and 2021, IHS told the press yesterday as it publicized a study from IHS Technology. A good part of the growth will come from a move . . . keep reading

SunEdison to buy Imergy batteries for Indian 'minigrids'March 30, 2015 -- SunEdison is set to buy up to 1,000 vanadium flow batteries (over 100 MWHs) from Imergy Power Systems, the buyer told the press last week. The batteries will be used to store solar-generated power for SunEdison's rural electrification and solar powered "minigrid" projects in India, SunEdison said . . . keep reading

Tucson Electric Power proposes lower net-metering rateMarch 27, 2015 -- Tucson Electric Power (TEP) proposed a new net-metering rate to cut the amount the utility pays to solar PV customers who sell power to the grid by $22/month, the utility told the press this week. The proposal would eliminate what the utility calls "subsidies" embedded . . . keep reading

Thread Group works to better smart home networksMarch 27, 2015 -- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW -- Exec tells us why ZigBee gear is simpler with Thread: Seven technology firms in July formed a San Ramon, Calif-based alliance called the Thread Group to try to change the global conversation around home automation. The group developed an IP-based . . . keep reading

JCP&L to put remote-controlled gear on 94 circuitsFebruary 24, 2015 -- Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) is about to install remote-controlled equipment on 94 circuits, the utility told the press yesterday as it outlined the $267-million plan to cut the duration of outages. The plan will help the utility meet future load growth in its . . . keep reading

BEAMA calls UK AMI plan 'big mountain to climb'December 10, 2014 -- Delayed deadlines were prudent, consumer benefits clear: Although the UK's £11 billion (US$17 billion) smart meter rollout will start six to eight months later than originally planned, most of the country's 53 million smart meters still should be installed by the end . . . keep reading

White House takes steps in cybersecurity, privacy agendaJanuary 20, 2015 -- The White House set Feb 13 to host an event called Summit on Cybersecurity & Consumer Protection at Stanford University, the Obama administration told the press last week. The plan is to "help shape public and private-sector efforts to protect American consumers and companies . . . keep reading

Duke Energy plans energy-storage research in IndianaMarch 31, 2015 -- Duke Energy is teaming with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) and the Battery Innovation Center to work to advance energy storage research, particularly as it applies to storing energy from the sun and wind and using it efficiently on the grid, Duke told the press yesterday. The project is part of a 2012 . . . keep reading

Sunverge helps utilities realize the value of DGFebruary 20, 2015 -- With over 400 deployments, CEO describes how: Sunverge CEO Ken Munson sees the utility sector as his DG firm's vital market long term, and he is adamant that there is no "death spiral" in DG and renewable energy for utilities, he told us this week . . . keep reading

Tucson Electric Power proposes lower net-metering rateMarch 27, 2015 -- Tucson Electric Power (TEP) proposed a new net-metering rate to cut the amount the utility pays to solar PV customers who sell power to the grid by $22/month, the utility told the press this week. The proposal would eliminate what the utility calls "subsidies" embedded . . . keep reading

Cal-ISO OKs using EVs to balance grid, smooth renewablesMarch 31, 2015 -- Cal-ISO's board approved an update of its strategic plan for integrating renewables where the ISO advised using EVs to balance the grid and smooth integration of renewable energy sources, the board told the press last week. Cal ISO also said it would work with regulators to encourage more TOU pricing . . . keep reading

XLink to sell Cyan smart grid gear in South AfricaMarch 25, 2015 -- Johannesburg, South Africa-based XLink Communications is set to distribute Cyan's smart energy communication technology -- that allows the measurement and control of energy use for the metering and lighting markets -- in South Africa, Cyan told the press yesterday. XLink will . . . keep reading

Thread Group works to better smart home networksMarch 27, 2015 -- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW -- Exec tells us why ZigBee gear is simpler with Thread: Seven technology firms in July formed a San Ramon, Calif-based alliance called the Thread Group to try to change the global conversation around home automation. The group developed an IP-based . . . keep reading

Screaming Power wants to build better utility appsMarch 9, 2015 -- CEO envisions utilities, customers both benefiting: Screaming Power is drawing to a close the yearlong conversation it had with a group of utility executives to look at mobility from the utility point of view, CEO Gary Michor told us this week. The Toronto-based firm . . . keep reading

PowerStream to be first to use new Schneider test labMarch 5, 2015 -- Schneider Electric opened the Schneider Electric Smart Grid Laboratory at Ryerson University's Centre for Urban Energy in Toronto, the firm told the press yesterday. The facility will provide a space for partners to test new products or grid strategies, conduct research . . . keep reading

Tecnalia promotes smart grid lab on Basque campusMarch 6, 2015 -- Tecnalia opened a group of smart grid labs on the campus of the Bizkaia Science & Technology Park in Bilbao, Spain, the firm told the press recently. The Spanish technological research firm invested 14 million Euros (US$15.4 million) in the laboratories, which will research . . . keep reading